The Demons of Shadow Moon

Part 31- A Special Bond

"Luna!" Echo shouted behind Luna, who fell to the floor in weakness.

Aki ran to catch her while Echo gave Luna an evil glare. Luna didn't look back, letting tears rush down her red face. She couldn't stop them from pouring.

"What happened??" Eclipse panicked.

"Luna... do you realise you could have been killed!? Just look at what he's done to you!" Echo shouted.

"So you acknowledging he's capable of killing now?" Eclipse mentioned.

"He didn't hurt me-" Luna went to say.

"Then stand up!" Echo shouted.

Luna weakly picked herself up with a wobble as Aki grabbed her waist, as she fell back into him.

"See? (sigh) That idiot...!" Echo grunted.

"What the heck is wrong with his magic to make you so weak?!" Aki grunted.

"Nothing's wrong with the magic. It's the user that's the problem," Echo commented.

"OOHHH, BURN!!" Aki smirked.

"Why is it like that? Was he born with magic that strong? Or... did he learn to make it stronger?" Luna asked.

Echo sighed, knowing she would have to finally address how much of a threat Akira was.

"Well, magic develops just like the body. He was born with strong magic, yes, but it grew to become dangerous. It soon became so dangerous that it would kill bodies that were unable to handle its strength; a great power to hold as king, but not when he can't control who it ends up hurting," Echo explained.

"Echo... what if... what if it's hurting him too? Maybe that's why..." Luna mumbled.

"Pff. As if that's an excuse. I told you, he's just impotent," Echo grumbled.

"But that's not necessarily his fault!" Luna argued with a worrying interpretation of what his magic might be doing to him.

"His fault or not, he's still too dangerous for you to be around, Luna. Do not make the mistake of pitying him," Echo told her.

Luna looked to the side stubbornly.

"Ever the empathic," Eclipse commented.

"Why did he have to leave me again...?" Luna sniffed.

"Because this isn't the world he rules... That's why... that's why he eventually left you, Luna. He had to go back home," Echo revealed.

"Hm. Abandoned because he was trying to escape his responsibilities. I told you he was cruel," Eclipse commented.

"If you're here to make things worse, why not get some salt for the wound?!" Echo yelled.

"The truth hurts, sweetheart. Frankly, I'd rather be the salt than a deceiving sweetness covering the aftertaste," Eclipse claimed.

"YOU'VE ALREADY USED THAT PHRASE!!" Echo yelled in annoyance.

"STOP IT!!" Luna snapped, fed up with their arguing. She sniffed as she wiped away a tear.

"Why did a demon king look after me anyway? He knew me before I lost my memories... Was he really the one who took them? Why didn't he just tell me?! I mean, we were friends... why would he let me forget that?" Luna asked.

"Because he's cruel-" Eclipse went to say.

"Because he was trying to protect you," Echo interrupted Eclipse.

"But now's not the time to explain! We have to leave. It's not safe here. If we stay for too long, who knows what will happen," she went on.

"But I don't want to leave!" Luna detested.